N03467:712
Discourses on various important subjects, nearly concerning the great affair of the soul's eternal…
Discourses on various important subjects, nearly concerning the great affair of the soul's eternal salvation, viz. I. Justification by faith alone. II. Pressing into the Kingdom of God. III. Ruth's resolution. IV. The justice of God in the damnation of sinners. V. The excellency of Jesus Christ. : Delivered at Northampton, chiefly at the time of the late wonderful pouring out of the spirit of God there. / By Jonathan Edwards, A.M. Pastor of the Church of Christ in Northampton. ; [Three lines from Deuteronomy]
Boston: printed by S. Kneeland and T. Green, 1738
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
But altho' People did not ordinarily neglect their worldly Business; yet there then was the Reverse of what commonly is: Religion was with all sorts the great Concern, and the World was a thing only by the Bye. The ⟨p. 9⟩only Thing in their view was to get the Kingdom of Heaven, and every one appeared pressing into it: The Engagedness of their Hearts in this great Concern could not be hid, it appeared in their very Countenances. It then was a dreadful Thing amongst us to lie out of Christ, in danger every day of dropping into Hell; and what Persons minds were intent upon was to escape for their Lives, and to fly from the Wrath to come. All would eagerly lay hold of Opportunities for their Souls; and were wont very often to meet together in private Houses, for religious Purposes: And such Meetings when appointed were wont greatly to be thronged.
But altho' People did not ordinarily neglect their worldly Business; yet there then was the Reverse of what commonly is: Religion was with all sorts the great Concern, and the World was a thing only by the Bye. The ⟨p. 9⟩only Thing in their view was to get the Kingdom of Heaven, and every one appeared pressing into it: The Engagedness of their Hearts in this great Concern cou'd not be hid, it appear'd in their very Countenances. It then was a dreadful Thing amongst us to lie out of Christ, in danger every day of dropping into Hell; and what Persons minds were intent upon was to escape for their Lives, and to fly from the Wrath to come. All would eagerly lay hold of Opportunities for their Souls; and were wont very often to meet together in private Houses, for religious Purposes: And such Meetings when appointed were wont greatly to be thronged.
There was scarcely a single Person in the Town, either old or young, that was left unconcerned about the great Things of the eternal World. Those that were wont to be the vainest, and loosest, and those that had been most disposed to think, and speak slightly of vital and experimental Religion, were now generally subject to great awakenings. And the Work of Conversion was carried on in a most astonishing manner, and increased more and more; Souls did as it were come by Flocks to Jesus Christ. From Day to Day, for many Months together, might be seen evident Instances of Sinners brought out of Darkness into marvellous Light, and delivered out of an horrible Pit, and from the miry Clay, and set upon a Rock, with a new Song of Praise to God in their mouths.